Taunton driver in Fall River truck crash has dozens of moving violations

Luis Cotto, the man who said his truck exploded into flames as the result of a shooting in Fall River early Sunday morning, has a four-page driving record featuring dozens of offenses dating back to 1990.

Luis Cotto, the man who said his truck exploded into flames as the result of a shooting in Fall River early Sunday morning, has a four-page driving record featuring dozens of offenses dating back to 1990.

The record includes incidents ranging from speeding to possession of a Class A drug, in addition to license suspension and involvement in several previous crashes.

Cotto told the media that the Sunday crash on Route 79 in Fall River was the result of a road rage incident, and said that a man fired a gun at his vehicle, causing it to explode.

“And then I see this guy, with a gun, I’m not sure what kind of gun, but I know I (saw) the fire come through it,” Cotto said.

The Massachusetts State Police are investigating the case, and said they are looking into Cotto’s claims of gunfire, as well as other explanations.

“We are following other leads as well,” said State Police spokesman David Procopio. “At this point, we are not prepared to say anything further or comment on what, if anything, we’ve found.”

Cotto, of Taunton, has faced charges including refusing to obey police, operating without a license, and speeding at least five times. In 1993, he was charged with possession of a Class A drug with intent to distribute in Fall River, for which he was found guilty two months later.

At one point, Cotto’s license was suspended for more than three years, which was an automatic result of the drug conviction, according to an RMV spokesperson. Cotto was then caught driving with the suspended license, causing another 60 days to be added to his license suspension.

Currently, according to RMV records, Cotto’s driver’s license and CDL license are both active.

Cotto, according to the records, was also involved in three crashes prior to Sunday, for which he was found to be at least partially at fault.

The first crash took place in New Bedford in 1992. The more recent crashes took place in Taunton — one in June 2006 and the other in July 2010.

Cotto also faced a charge of impeding operation in Raynham in 1998.

A message left with Cotto’s girlfriend was not immediately returned on Wednesday. Cotto’s son said his father’s phone was melted in the inferno caused by Sunday’s crash.

Procopio said he could not answer specific questions on Sunday’s incident and Cotto’s version of events, but said the State Police Ballistics Unit is investigating the wreckage of the truck and following additional leads.

“I can confirm that we are investigating to determine whether there is any evidence to support the trucker’s claims,” Procopio said. “Our ballistics unit is investigating the wreckage of the truck.”

Page 2 of 2 -
Procopio said the truck was registered to Cotto, but said no other information would be released at this point. “We are not releasing the incident report” while the investigation is pending, he said.

It is unclear where the wreckage is being held, if any bullet shell casings were found at the scene, if any bullet holes could be found in the wreckage, or who Cotto was servicing with his tractor trailer at the time of the incident on Sunday. Procopio did not respond to these questions, or confirm whether Cotto had auto insurance.

Cotto, 42, is self-employed and was driving a 1992 FLD tractor truck during the incident on Sunday, which led to an inferno that created structural damage on an overpass on Route 79 near the Braga Bridge in Fall River.

Cotto said another car cut him off, prompting him to flip on the high beams. Both car and truck pulled over. Cotto said three other men got out of the car and they all beat him before he limped away to his truck. But then, Cotto said, the driver of the car took out a gun and fired it at his truck at least four times, leading to an explosion and a raging fire that he barely survived.

A trooper from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is assisting in the State Police-led investigation, said DA spokesperson Lisa Rowell. Rowell said her office had no additional information to offer.